Autism Scams

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Autism spectrum disorder affects 1 in 68 children in the United States. Parents naturally want their children to get the best treatment. But they have to be careful because a lot of things that look like treatments don’t work.

“Unfortunately, there is no cure. So products or treatments claiming to cure autism do not work as claimed. The same is true of many products claiming to treat autism. In fact, some of these products may carry significant health risks.”

Sklamberg says parents should be wary of personal testimonials without science to support them, or claims of quick fixes or breakthroughs. The best advice on treatments should come from the child’s health care provider.